The Board of Melbourne Fringe has announced the appointment of Simon Abrahams as Melbourne Fringe’s new Creative Director and CEO.
“I am thrilled to be joining the brilliant Melbourne Fringe team as Creative Director and CEO,” said Mr Abrahams. “Having devoted my professional life to developing artistic platforms for the work of young people, brave artists, emerging artforms and big ideas, I look forward to collaborating with our independent arts sector through Melbourne Fringe’s creative leadership. Together, I know we will make many extraordinary things happen.”
Mr Abrahams sits on the Theatre Panel for the Helpmann Awards and the Contemporary and Experimental Performance Panel for the Green Room Awards and recently completed a research project investigating theatre for young people in Belgium, Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.
In 2014 he was awarded the CHASS Australia Prize for a Leader aged under 35 years, and together with his Polyglot colleague Sue Giles, Simon was named among Arts Hub’s Top Ten Arts Leaders of 2010.
“Simon was selected from a strong field of candidates and brings a wealth of experience to the role and we are very excited that he is joining us”, said Mark Licciardo, Chair of the Melbourne Fringe Board.
Last year the Melbourne Fringe Festival enjoyed a 39% increase in ticketed attendance, with an audience of 71,995 people, across 400 shows. The Festival will continue to play a leading role in the support of independent arts and facilitating the development of innovative and diverse arts.
“Melbourne Fringe has the potential to grow even bigger this year and I’m excited to work with creative artists and staff here at Fringe, for a successful 2015 and beyond,” said Mr Abrahams.
For more information, visit: www.melbournefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Simon Abrahams – photo by Pia Johnson